Brothers of Senator Monreal arrested on drug charges

Two brothers of Senator Ricardo Monreal, the head of the PT Senate
bloc, were indicted on drug charges by the federal Ministry of
Justice. They are the owners (along with the Senator’s daughter
Maria) of a large drying plant for chilies in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. In
January, the army seized 14.5 tons of marijuana in the plant. One of
the brothers arrested, David, is currently mayor of Fresnillo. A key
ally of López Obrador, Monreal became the head of the PT Senate
bloc in January without giving up his PRD affiliation. Today PRD
secretary general Hortensia Aragon tried to distance the party from
Monreal, saying that his affiliation ended when he joined the PT Senate
caucus. (Reforma 5/18)